A/n: At the end of POA, it says that exam results came on the last day of term, so that's what I'm going with. I'm positive in HBP it isn't until mid to late summer that they get their OWL results, but since I'm following POA canon, I wrote it as such.

This is IT folks! The conclusion. After way too many years and an incredible amount of hours writing and especially rewriting this beast, here is the last chapter. Thank to ANYONE who read this far – you are loved!

Chapter 34 - Last Last Day Ever

On the last day of term, the students received their final marks. Oliver was in the Common Room, envelope in hand and had yet to open it. In his other hand was another envelope which he also couldn't quite bring himself to open. He was dreading seeing how many NEWTs he did (or didn't) receive and feared the reply that the other envelope might hold.

He was startled by the twins whooping and clapping respectively.

"Three!" shouted Fred. "That's better than I thought!"

George walloped him on the back, grinning. "All that hard work paid off."

Angelina snorted. "What hard work?"

Fred pretended to be momentarily offended, but George laughed. "Exactly."

While George lamented that he'd narrowly missed an OWL in Potions, he was certain he wasn't going to bother trying to take Potions at a NEWT level so it didn't matter. Fred was glad to have earned an OWL in Transfiguration, the one class he claimed he wouldn't risk messing around in, lest he incur McGonagall's wrath.

It wasn't until Katie suggested that they head to breakfast when they noticed Oliver hunched up in the far corner by the window, envelope clutched in each hand, mouth set in a grim line. Alicia and Angelina exchanged concerned looks.

"Oliver?" Lee asked. "Everything alright?"

The Gryffindor Captain swallowed but otherwise didn't reply. Lee glanced at the twins who waved for the others to go on and they'd catch up. Fred approached and knelt beside his friend while George hung back.

"What happened? Did you do badly?" Fred questioned softly.

Oliver reluctantly raised his eyes. "I can't open them. I… I woke up at five and they were on my night stand. I haven't been able to… I can't…"

"Them?"

"Remember when I made that list of teams and mailed out the applications?" Oliver gestured with the envelope in his left hand. "I got one back."

"Who?"

"Puddlemere."

"Well that's good, right? They were at the top of your list."

Oliver nodded once and dropped his gaze to the pair of envelopes again.

"Mate, what're you so afraid of? They're just bits of paper with numbers and words."

I'm afraid of failing, thought Oliver. Of not – of never being good enough.

Fred sighed. "Would it help if I opened them?"

"Yes," Oliver mumbled.

"Preference?"

He shook his head.

Fred grabbed the envelope that held Oliver's NEWTs results first. As he tore open the envelope he said, "You know, you do this every bloody year. You get yourself all in a twist over some examination marks and – "

"These are NEWTs!" Oliver cut in sharply. "This can make or break me, mate!"

"I get that Oliver, really, but," Fred shook his head. "You are way too hard on yourself. You always pass – you always do great. Look at George and me – we scraped up a healthy 3 OWLs each and you don't see us crying, do you? No, we're bloody celebrating!"

This earned a small smile from Oliver, so Fred clapped him heartily on his shoulder as he scanned his friend's examination results. "See, that's the spirit. Lighten up, my friend. A 'T' in Transfiguration does not a Quidditch star break."

"What!" Oliver sat up and snatched the paper from Fred's hands. He was immediately relieved to see no T's or D's, and that he had, in fact, earned himself an E in Transfiguration, as well as several other subjects – including Potions.

He jumped up so fast he knocked Fred over and nearly cracked his head on the window sill. Fred cursed but Oliver didn't take notice as he hurried over to George and shouted that he'd received a NEWT in Potions! He couldn't wait to tell the rest of his friends, especially Audrey. The twins congratulated him on his truly stellar results: Oliver had earned himself a total of nine NEWTs, though he got a Poor in History of Magic. For a couple minutes he was so excited and relieved at his NEWT results, he completely forgot about the other envelope, now in Fred's hands.

The smile slid off his face instantly.

"Even if they say no, you did send out four other applications," George reminded him warningly, sensing his friend's perfectionist fears on the rise again. "This isn't the end-all-beat-all."

"Open it," Oliver murmured.

Fred did so and for a couple seconds as he read, his face was emotionless and Oliver felt his heart thudding hard in his chest. His mouth was abruptly dry and his euphoria over his NEWTs already dissipated. It wasn't the end, of course, if they said no, he knew that, he knew that… then why did just the mere thought of rejection already make him feel stiff with fear?

"Oliver," Fred looked up and Oliver realized he was holding his breath. "They said yes."

He stared.

"Did you hear me?" Fred thrust the letter at Oliver.

He scanned the first few lines, sure he'd heard wrong, but he saw Congratulations and a wonderful addition to our team and contact us upon the completion of your final year at Hogwarts and a very big number that was apparently his starting salary. His knees felt buttery and all he could think was,

I did it.

Though he felt like his day could not get any better, it somehow did. Gryffindor was awarded the House Cup for the third year in a row and the Hall was decorated accordingly. Though Percy tried to boast about how he'd received top NEWTs in everything, Oliver was too happy with own success to do much of anything except grin and offer him congratulations. This seemed to stun Percy a bit who'd clearly been expecting some form of their usual snarky exchanges, but proceeded to genuinely, if rather pompously, congratulate Oliver in turn on his NEWTs and the acceptance letter from the Puddlemere United Quidditch team.

Katie and Denise had both earned themselves several NEWTs each as well, and they all congratulated one another. Denise had received top marks in Herbology and had already applied to St. Mungo's for an internship. Katie had yet to decide what she was going to do, but was simply overjoyed at her good marks. George kissed her cheek as she beamed happily.

The end of term feast was spectacular and like most every other student, Oliver nearly ate himself sick. As the chatter continued around him, he took a moment and reflected on the year he'd had, on all the ups and downs. He leaned sideways and was able to see Audrey through the throngs of students and she was talking animatedly with her red-haired friend. He smiled and let his eyes wander around the Hall. He revelled in the warmth and the noise, already feeling nostalgic. This was his last end of term feast ever, the last time he was to sit at the Gryffindor table, with all his fellow students, gazing up at the full Head Table, Dumbledore in the center, silvery beard shining…

As if he knew the Gryffindor was looking at that moment, Dumbledore caught his gaze and gave him a smile and a tip of his head. Oliver returned the gesture and returned to the conversation between his friends.

Oliver was on his way to the train station with the other students when Professor McGonagall pulled him aside for a word.

"I've just heard the news," she said. "Congratulations on not only your marks, but also on the acceptance letter from Puddlemere."

"Thank you Professor," he grinned.

A funny glint came over her eyes about then and he realized with a start it was tears.

"You know Wood," she cleared her throat though it didn't completely remove the emotional quiver. "I don't pick favourite students. If I did, you can be certain you'd be one of them. I'm sorry to see you go."

Though he generally wasn't one for hugs and he knew Professor McGonagall absolutely wasn't, that didn't stop him from suddenly embracing her. She stiffened instantly.

"Thank you for everything, Professor," he said as she awkwardly patted his back. "I'm going to miss this place and the teachers in it terribly." He pulled back and noted how he was a bit taller than she was. He briefly recalled being that skinny little first year, when she'd seemed to absolutely tower over him and he didn't think anyone could be that tall (that'd been excluding Hagrid of course).

"Yes, well," she brushed at her dress with her hands and cleared her throat again. "Goodbye then. And good luck. I'll be tracking your career closely." Her voice was stern and curt again, but Oliver could feel the affection beneath the tone.

He bid her a fond goodbye and left for the train.

At the station, he was just about to climb aboard when Audrey came beside him, tapping him on the shoulder. He waved for his friends to find them a good compartment and turned to her.

"Alright?"

She nodded. "Alright. You?"

He exhaled and looked up at the castle in the distance. "It's hard – leaving and knowing I'm not coming back. But it's only going to get better from here." He returned his gaze to hers. "You'll keep in touch during your last year?"

"Of course," she answered. "I need you to send me all your seventh year notes, after all, save me some work."

He laughed. "Not a chance. I slaved for hours to get the marks I got!"

"Slaved - don' t exaggerate."

The train whistle sounded to warn the last call for passengers.

"You better hurry and get on," he said and she walked backwards away from him towards the train cars farther down.

"Good luck with Puddlemere!"

"Good luck with your seventh year!" he called, then added, "I'll see you?"

She beamed at him. "You can count on it."

-THE END-

A/n: I've always imagined McGonagall and Oliver had bit more of a special teacher/student relationship and I wanted to show that throughout the story in their little moments together, as well as their little goodbye. :)

THANK YOU to every single person who ever read this story before, and especially after, this massive rewrite. It has been more appreciated than you'll ever know. Reviews are like oxygen!

Long live Harry Potter, and see you at the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) premiere. ;)